BCBG to Close 120 Stores Nationwide

Women’s apparel and footwear retailer BCBG is closing 120 stores nationwide that “either are unprofitable or have untenable lease agreements” in the coming weeks, said company spokesperson Seth Lubove. Liquidation sales have already begun and will most likely last eight weeks to 10 weeks. The closing stores include the California-based company’s BCBGMaxazria and BCBGGeneration locations, but not the store-within-a-store concepts housed in various Macy’s department stores. Last month, BCBG disclosed restructuring plans to focus on e-commerce and in-store boutiques.

Total Retail’s Take: Add BCBG to the growing list of retailers whose stores will start disappearing from malls this year. The consumer shift to digital, the rise of fast-fashion brands like Zara and H&M, and off-price concepts like T.J. Maxx are forcing many brands to restructure and reconsider their strategies. Wet Seal, Macy’s and American Apparel, along with BCBG, are all causalities of this changing shopping environment.